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Auction: 22075 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 117

The exciting 'Battle of Passchendaele 1917' M.M. pair awarded to Private T. Griffiths, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, decorated for keeping to his post even when wounded by enemy fire, he was later involved in the 'Llewellyn Raids' but was killed a shell while escorting a prisoner to British lines after a trench raid

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2759 Pte. Griffiths. 1/W.Gds:); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Tom Griffiths), minor contact marks to first, some residue on second, overall very fine (2)

M.M. London Gazette 19 November 1917.

Thomas Griffiths also called 'Tommy' was born at Blaenporth, Cardigan in 1890, the son of Benjamin and Anne Griffiths of Tymawr, Blaenporth. Emplyed as a farm worker in Brecon prior to enlistment he was called up on 16 May 1916 with 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards before being posted to 1st Battalion on 22 December 1916.

One of the earliest action Griffiths was involved with was the Battle of Passchendaele. The fighting for the Battalion was centred around Langemark and it was here that Griffiths committed his act of valour. The Battalion History describes the incident stating:

'Langemark therefore came in for some severe shelling, although no advance was attempted at that point. The line was held by shell-hole posts, and they were very scattered. The danger of enemy attack too was ever imminent. Ptes. 2,138 J. Lloyd Roberts, 2,661 J. Lewis, 2,759 T. Griffiths, and 2,851 T. Evans were names of men that were noted as having remained at duty though wounded (Lewis in seven places), and to remain at duty meant that they were squatting, wet to the skin, in mud-filled shell-holes.'

By early 1918 the Battalion was stationed at Arras when they noted a major upsurge in the number of German raids. It was decided to send out a raid led by Lieutenant P. Llewellyn to probe the enemy line and try to capture a prisoner for interogation (prisoners taken during a Stormtrooper raid had hinted that a major offensive might be close).

The raid took place on 10 March 1918 with a brief artillery bombardment preceeding it. Unfortunately the enemy were ready for them with troops positioned outside the trenches in shell craters, despite this they did manage to take a prisoner. The Battalion history takes up the story stating:

'A few bombs in return caused the Huns to run, although apparently no damage was done. Llewellyn then ordered his party to return to their lines, pluckily saw the last man out, and was carried behind them by his orderly, Duffy. By this time the enemy had opened his S.O.S. barrage, and on the way back the prisoner was blown up, with two men who were taking him, and a dozen other men were hit.'

Four members of the Battalion were killed that day, one officer and three other ranks, of those other ranks only two have no known grave. They are Privates Griffiths and Everson, given the situation it is likely that they were the men escorting the German prisoner who were killed when the shell hit as there is no evidence that either body was taken in. Griffiths therefore has no known grave but is commemorated upon the Arras Memorial; sold together with copied research including service records, M.I.C. and extracts from the Battalion war diary, London Gazette and Battalion history along with Commonwealth War Graves details and medal rolls.

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Sold for
£750